GHSA track: State champs from Mary Persons, East Laurens, FPD, and GMC (first-day scorers)
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Updated at 1:30 a.m. with all results
Claire Harrison got the championship run going first, and Ikeria Hamilton was only a few minutes behind.
They were Central Georgia’s first GHSA state track champions for 2021, FPD’s Harrison taking the Class A Private girls discus title and East Laurens’ Hamilton winning the AA girls high jump before noon Thursday.
Harrison was seeded first and Hamilton fourth in their early events. Harrison’s 131-1 was a personal best.
Mary Persons’ distance standout Justin Wachtel capping the day’s title taking almost 12 hours later when the defending Class 4A champ won the 3A 3,200 title.
Wachtel won a tight race, by less than two seconds, and passed the 3A record of Daniel Henderson. Wachtel’s 9.06.49 nipped Henderson’s 9:07, set in 1976.
He is the top seed in three events, and next up is the 1,600 Friday night. Wachtel will run in the 800 preliminaries on Friday as well.
ction continues through Saturday at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany (4A, 3A, A Public), McEachern (7A, AA, A Private), and Grisham Stadium in Carrollton (6A, 5A, Adapted).
Tickets are $7 and available on GoFan.
GMC’s De’Aisha Stephens won the Class A Public girls jump.
Hamilton added the triple jump title later in the day. Northside’s KaeVaughn Martin took second in 6A boys triple jump, and West Laurens’ Makayla Register was fourth in the 4A girls discus and second in the shot.
The only area teams in the top five in their classification after one day: Mary Persons’ boys are first in 3A, and West Laurens’ girls are tied for third.
East Laurens girls are fourth in AA, and Bleckley County’s boys third early on. GMC’s girls fifth in A Public, and ACE’s boys are third in A Public.
Central Georgia's Thursday point scorers
Class 6A
Girls
Discus: 6. Marquai White, Houston County, 117-6
Boys
Triple jump: 2. KaeVaughn Martin, Northside, 44-10.25
Class 5A
Girls
Shot put: 6. Zemaya Carson, Warner Robins, 35-8
High jump: 7 (tie). Nya Warren, Jones County, 5-0
Boys
Discus: 4. Vic Burley, Warner Robins, 156-4
Long jump: 3. Erin Blount, Jones County, 22-2
Class 4A
Girls
Discus: 4. Makayla Register, West Laurens, 104-5
Long jump: 4. Madison Ruff, Baldwin, 17-5.5; 8. Deundra Watts, West Laurens, 16.5.5
Triple jump: 4. Ashanti Surrey, West Luarens, 35-8.5
Shot put: 2. Makayla Register, West Laurens, 38-0.25; 5. Jayden Rogers, West Laurens, 35-10.25
4x800 relay: 8. Baldwin 'A', 10:42.58
Class 3A
Girls
Discus: 6. J'Mya Mann,Mary Persons, 108-4; 7. Cierra Gibson, Peach County, 107-4
Boys
3200: 1. Justin Wachtel, Mary Persons, 9:06.49
Class AA
Girls
High jump: 1. Ikeria Hamilton, East Laurens, 5-4; 6. Miracle Parker, Washington County, 4-10
Shot put: 6. Journi Harris, Lamar County, 35-9
Triple jump: 1. Ikeria Hamilton, East Laurens, 38-4.5; 5. Jacquelyn Patrick, 35-8
Long jump: 4. Altierra Gooch, Dodge County, 16-11.5; 5. Ashley Gray, Washington County, 16-10.25
4x800 relay: 3. Bleckley County 'A', 10:08.43
1600: 6. Tristen Crosby, Bleckley County, 5:24.59
Boys
3,200: 5. Luke Churchwell, Bleckley County, 9:55.63
Class A Public
Girls
Discus: 5. Kyra Dobler, GMC, 95-1
Long Jump: 1. De'Aisha Stephens, GMC, 16-11.5
Shot put: 7. Chyshawnda Smith, Macon County, 29-11.75
4x800 relay: 4. ACE 'A', 12:07.72; 5. Hawkinsville 'A', 12:27.84; 5. Dublin 'A', 12:29.13
1600: 3. Jada Warren, GMC, 5:39.74
Boys
3200: 4. Nathan Hallar, ACE, 10:23.9; 7. Will Foster, ACE, 11:08.58
Class A Private
Girls
Discus: 1. Claire Harrison, FPD, 131-1; 7. Madison James, Stratford, 98-3
High jump: 2 (tie). Claudia Pope, Stratford, 5-0
Shot put: 3. Sydney Artis, Mount de Sales, 36-4.5
Triple jump: 5. Dylan Driver, Stratford, 36-0
1,600: 7. Lillie Mealor, 5:21.26
Boys
3200: 7. Nathan Dummitt, Stratford, 9:38.60